Scene-shifting device.



No. 8'79 820. F B. 1 Bl GIULIETTL PATENTED E 8,1908

SCENE SHIFTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12 1907.

KSHBETS-SHEET 1.

THE umzms PETERS co, WASHINGTON, u. c.

PATENTEDFEB. 1s, 190s.v

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E, GIULIETTI. SCENE SHIPTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12 1907. I

No. 879,820. PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908.

E GIULIETTI SCENE SHIFTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1907.

e SHEETS-SHEET s.

N Z 00 G H 0 WIYTESEE THE NvRRt's PETERS co., wnsnngcrolv, n c.

No. 879,820. PATENTED PEB.18, 1908.

E. GIULIBTTI.

SCENE SHIFTING DEVIGE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12; 1907.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

g EB WE #Xmm, W AW No. 879,820. PATENTED FEB.18,'1908.

E. GIULIETTI. v

scam SHIFTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1907.

6 SHEETS-$HBET 5.

No. 879,820. PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908.

E. GIULIBTTI.

SCENE SHIFTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.12. 1907.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Fig.6. Fig.7

XYEEEEE ENRIOO GIULIETTI, OF GENOA,. ITALY.

SCENE-SHIPPING- DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1908.

Original application filed March 14. 1905. Serial No. 250.088. Dividedand this application filed Au ust 12. 1907 Serial No. 388-103- To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ENRIOO GIULIETTI, subject of the King of Italy,residing in Genoa, in the Kingdom of Italy, engineer, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Scene-Shifting Devices.

The object of this invention is a special arrangement of the side scenesin theaters, by which it is possible to change the side scenes withgreat rapidity and facility.

The invention is shown in connection with a device for changing thestages of theaters set forth in my contemporaneous application No.250,088.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a plan of the space occupiedby the stage and by the mechanism connected therewith; Figs. 2 and3 aresectional elevations the former at right angles and the latter parallelto the front of the stage; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on a largerscale of one of the stages showing the mechanism for raising andlowering; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of part of the firstcompartment taken 011 a line parallel to the front of the stage; Fig. 6is the plan and Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional elevations, the formerparallel and the latter at right angles to the front of the stage, ofthe stage space of a smaller theater in which as the changing of floorsis impossible the invention is shown applied to the changing of sidescenes only.

In carrying out the invention the space occupied by the stage is dividedinto three compartments I, II, and III one behind the other (Figs. 1 and2). Compartments I and III are intended for replacing side scenes;compartment III also for replacing the back curtains compartment II isintended for the change of stage (scaffolds, boards).

WVe will begin the description of the working of stages (scaffolds,boards).

Compartment II contains several stages A, A, A and A (for instance fouras shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) superposed the one over the other.Reference is now made to Fig. 4 which represents any one of thesestages. This has its surface upon which the actors play covered withboards D. In the under parts E are transverse slots through which thecurtains d pass, intended for the decoration of the ceiling, or used asintermediate curtains. These curtains are rolled up on drums e, similarto those generally used in theaters for the same purpose. F is anintermediate floor of the stage used by the scene shifters. The distancebetween the two floors D and F is such as to allow the scene shifter tostand and move about. On the same floor is placed an electric motor f,which, by means of a belt, actuates the shaft g which transmits themovement to the two sets of shafts h, 'i and h, i placed along the rightside and the left side of the scaffold. We will now describe the workingof these shafts h, t' and h, t.

One shaft 'i, t", of each set, through suitable gearing m, m, and n, n,turns the four nuts C along the thread of the screw, which runs thewhole length of four columns B situated at the four corners andextending to the full height of compartment II. Consequently, when thefour nuts C turn, they go up or down along the columns B, carrying up ordown, with them, the stage with which they are connected by means ofball bearings 0. The other shaft h, h, of each set turns four toothedwheels G which work into four racks H, the height of which is equal tothat of compartment II. Consequently, on being turned, the four wheels Gmove along the racks H carrying up or down with them the stage to whichtheir shafts are secured. Thus the stage can rise or sink by means ofthe nuts C running along the four columns B, as well as by means of thetoothed wheels G gearing into the four racks H. It is by these two waysthat the rising and sinking of the stage is made easy and sure. It ishowever made still more easy and sure by means of a third contrivance,viz: by two systems of wire ropes p and g, and which work as follows:One system of wire ropes is intended to connect each stage with thatwhich is immediately below, to which the upper one thus affords asuspension point. For this purpose each wire rope p is fixed, by one ofits ends to a point P on the stage, while the other end is wound round adrum I which is fixed on the stage placed immediately below the formerone. These drums I are mounted on a shaft j rotated by the wheel K onthe shaft it through the chain It rotating the drum J on the shaft j.Toothed wheels L mounted on the small counter shaft y" and gearing intothe vertical rack H, are intended to act as a further guide, while theyalso aid the rising of the stage. When for instance the stage A isrising, its four drums I turn and wind up the four ropes p which thensupport the stage A when rising, some of its weight being carried by thestage A which is immediately above. But I as the stage A is alsosupported through a similar arrangement of ropes, by the stage A nextabove, it follows that the weight of the stage A is carried forward tothe topv stage A. This stage A is supported as follows :On its own drumI is fastened and wound, as on the other drums of the other stages, arope p which passes above, round a pulley I and is afterwards fixed atits end to a point P on the same stage. Thus the suspension of the stageA is effected by means of the pulley I fixed into the ceiling ofcompartment II.

The other system also consists of four wire ropes g each fastened by oneend to a point Q on each of the four corners of the highest stage A.Each rope is passed. several times round a drum M, on the stage Aimmediately below, and afterwards on other drums M on the two lowerstages A and A Then passing upwards it is wound round and fastened bythe opposite end on the drum M of the top stage A. All these drums M areupon the shafts h of the separate stages, being fast or loose at will,by means of suitable couplings. The drums M of the top stage A however,are always fixed on their shaft. Supposing now that any one of thestages for instance A is to be raised, while the other ones are toremain motionless, it will be enough to loose the drums of the stagesthat are to remain motionless, with the exception of those of the topstage A. The shaft h of the stage A which is to be raised is put inmotion by the electric motor f on its own stage, and will drive the drumM fixed on it, and this drum will wind up the rope g on one side, whileit will unwind it on the other side. Vice versa, when the stage is to belowered; The operation of the ropes g is thus a double one. Firstly theyact as a stop brake of the stages; secondly, they offer another way ofsuspending any one of the stages to the top stage A during movement,viz: to help it when going up and brake it when going down.

In order to give to the top stage A itself, a second means of.suspension (beyond that offered by the first system of ropes and therope pulley already described) it is provided with four more wire ropesg (Fig. 3) fastened by one end to points Q on the top stage A andpassing afterwards round pulleys N fixed to the ceiling at oppositesides of compartment II and finally around the winding drum 0 of a motorR situated on the floor of the compartment. It follows that the weightof the top stage A and consequently, also that of the stages which arebelow it, is particularly supported by the double system of ropes p andg described, which by means of the contrivances already explained, helpthe ascent and brake the descent of the top stage A. In short: theraising and lowering ofgthe stages is performed by the simultaneous andconnected working1st.of the nuts C driven along the screw threadedcolumns B; ,2nd.of the toothed-wheels G gearing with the vertical racksH; 3rd.of the two systems of wire ropes p and g wound around theirrespective drums I and M.

Manipulation of bac7cs.The change of the back scenery is accomplished incompartment III in the usual way, viz: by means of ropes, pulleys,counter weights and the like, arranged so as to allow the scene shiftersto replace any scenery used very easily. All this is well known in alltheaters.

Manipulation of side scenes.-This is accomplished in compartments I andIII. In each of these compartments there are several scaffolds (forinstance three as shown in the drawings S, S and S) which may rise orsink simultaneously. We will begin by the description of thesemovements, viz: rising and sinking, special reference being made toFigs. 1 and 5. These movements are accomplished by the agency of themotor it situated on the floor of the compartment. This motor actuatesthe shafts 1, 1, by means of intermediate shaft 20 which by gearing 21revolves shaft 22 which in its turn actuates bevel gearing 23 connectedto the shafts 1 in question, these through bevel gearing 2, 2,

rotate the four columns 3 situated near the four corners of the stage.Each of these columns has a groove running throughout its length. Inthis groove slides a tenon carried by a toothed wheel 4 gearing withanother toothed wheel 5. This latter has an internal thread working on ascrew threaded vertical column 6. Of these latter columns there are foursituated adjacent to the four grooved columns. The wheel 5 with the internal thread thus works exactly as the nuts C which move along thecolumns B to raise and lower the stages'as before described. This wheel5 when turning goes up and down along the screw threaded column 6,carrying up and down it the scaffold S which it supports by means ofball bearings 7. But as the scaffolds S, S and S are rigidly connectedto each other, it follows thatthey move up' and down together. As thesupport 8 of the wheel 4 is connected with the lowest scaffold S, thissupport 8 moves with the scaffold drawing the wheel 4, the tenon slidingalong the grooved column 3. In this way the correct gearing between thewheels 4. and 5 is always secured. Finally: in order to better effectthe movement of the scaffolds, there is a rack 9 with which gear,throughout its length, toothed wheels 10, the shafts of which' arecarried by the scaffolds. When the motor R rotates the internallythreaded wheel 5 the scaffolds go up or down according to the directionof rotation.

The change of side scenes is brought about to which the side scenes areattached by.

means of mortises and tenons. These frames u can turn on their spindlesv, situated at one end of the frame, as a door on its hinges. \Vepreferably arrange two superposed frames in the compartment III as wellas in compartment I. The frames u in compartment I turning on theirspindles o carry the side scenes for the decoration of the right side ofthe scene, while the frames of compartment III carry the side scenes forthe decoration of the left side.

When desirous of replacing the side scenes, we begin by withdrawing themfrom the scene, turning by hand the frames u on their spindles 1) boththe right and the left side. This done, by raising or lowering the wholeof the scaffolds, we get two fresh frames, carrying fresh side scenes,on a level with the stage, and by turning the same frames on theirspindles c, we carry them to the places previously occupied by the otherframes for the decoration of the right side and of the left side of thenew scene.

In order to achieve speedily and without obstacles all these movements,viz: that of rotation; that of raising or lowering of the frames 11., itis necessary to begin by turning the side scenes 8 each on its spindlet, until each side scene, instead of being in its normal position, belaid flat on the following one, as shown in Fig. 1 in compartment III.The rotary movement is produced by hand simultaneously for all sidescenes by means of a suitable rod connecting them all together.

Having described the manipulation of scaffolds, back and side scenes, weshall now describe how these various operations may be achievedsimultaneously. Supposing in compartment II the stage A on a level withthe forescene, is that where the actors are playing. The stage A overthe above mentioned one, provides the curtains d for the decoration ofthe ceiling. In compartments I and III the respective frames u, betweenthe scaffolds S and S with their side scenes decorate the right and leftsides of the scene respectively. When wishing to change the scenery, thescene-shifters must begin by taking away from the stage A, the sidescenes turning the frames u of the right side, and of the left side, andcarrying them into compartments I and III respectively.

Then:

In compartment II: the stage A sinks and is replaced by the stage Awhich reaches the level of the fore-scene, while the ceiling curtains dused during the preceding scene are rolled up on their drums e. But,meantime, the stage A has sunk and is come over the next stage A,providing as above described the curtains d for the decoration of thenew ceiling.

In compartment I: all the scaffolds rise so far as to bring the lowerscaffold S on a level with the front stage.

In compartment III: all the scaffolds sink so far as to bring the upperscaffold S on a level with the stage.

In the meantime the back scenery 1 will have been withdrawn and it willhave been replaced.

When those movements of raising and lowering are carried out it remainsonly to decorate the right side and the left side of the new scene withthe side scenes. This will be obtained by turning on their spindles thenew frames a which are in compartments I and III on a level with thescene.

In the description of the above contrivances, no mention has been madeas to details connected with the reversing of the shafts, the pawls, andthe electric connections for bringing the current to the motors of thescaffolds to be moved. All these are but construction details which donot alter the nature and substance of the invention.

If desired in smaller theaters the above arrangement need only becarried out as regards the side scenes the stage not being moved (seeFigs. 6, 7 and 8). In this case the stage being of little depth andconsequently the number of side scenes being small the side scene-framefor the right side, as well as that for the left side, can be bothplaced in compartment I. However the change of side scenes isaccomplished as seen here above; viz: by lifting and lowering thescaffolds. When a motor fails, the necessary power may be got by anhydraulic piston 11 as those generally employed for ifts. A secondhydraulic piston 12 may be placed under the stage A, which consequentlymight be lowered on a level with the pit on special occasions, as balls,and the like. In such a theater the hindermost compartment is intendedfor the working of the back scenery alone.

I declare that what I claim is 1. In theater staging, a plurality ofscaffolds, means for vertically adjusting said scafiolds, framespivotally supported in said scaffolds, and side scenes supported in saidframes.

2. In theater staging, a stage, a plurality of vertically adjustablescaffolds in front of said stage, a plurality of vertically adjustablescaffolds behind said stage, and sets of side scenes for both the rightand left hand sides of the stage carried by said scafiolds.

3. In theater staging, a stage, a plurality of scaffolds, columnssituated at the four corners of the stage and each provided with agroove, a toothed wheel with a tenon on each of said columns, a toothedWheel With an internal thread gearing with said first wheel, a verticalcolumn at each corner of said stage carrying each of said internallythreaded toothedwheels, and means for actuating said grooved columnssimultaneously, said internally threaded toothed wheels being connectedto said scaffolds.

4. In theater staging, a plurality of vertically adjustable scaffolds infront of said stage, a plurality of vertically adjustable scaffoldsbehind said stage, frames pivotally mounted in each of said scaffolds,side scenes mounted in each of said frames, and means for raising andlowering said scaffolds.

5. In theater staging, a stage, a plurality of vertically adjustablescaffolds in front of said stage, a plurality of vertically adjustablescaffolds behind said stage, a frame mounted in each of said scaffolds,side scenes mounted in each of said frames, and

means for permitting each of said frames to be swung at right angles toits respective scaffold.

6. In theater stages, a stage, a plurality of vertically adjustablescaffolds in front of said stage, a plurality of vertically adjustablescaffolds behind said stage, a motor, connections between said motor andsaid scaffolds for conveying the motion of said motor thereto, framespivotally mounted about a vertical axis in each of said scaffolds, andside scenes mounted in each of said frames.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my'name this 29th day of July1907, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ENRICO GIULIETTI.

I/Vitnesses AUGUsTo ZANINI, GUIsEPPE PIAGGIO.

